Liquid-elevating apparatus.



T. -W. MURPHY.

LIQUID ELEVATING APPARATUS APPLICATION FILED FEB. 7. I918.

Patented J an. 28, 1919.

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Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,

THOMAS W. MURPHY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

LIQUID-ELEVATING- APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 28, 1919.

Application filed February 7, 1918. Serial No. 215,755.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, THOMAS W. MURPHY, acitizen of the United States, residing in have invented Liquid-ElevatingApparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a combined liquid and air inlet elevating andcontrolling device operating automatically in conjunction with tanks,piping, etc., to utilize air under pressure for automatically raisingbodies of liquid from a low to a higher level, and one object of saidinvention is to provide a relatively simple combination of parts whichfor a given size and length of pipe shall have a greater capacity thansimilar apparatus of the same general class.

It is further desired to provide a liquid elevating apparatus, which byreason of certain novel constructions and connections, shall be capableof combining the check and, the air-controlling valves in a suitablecasing in the inlet pipe and thereby materially decrease the expense ofsaid system.

Another object of the invention is to provide an automatic liquid andair-controlling device which, in addition to being capable ofintermittently raising bodies of liquid when supplied with air underpressure, shall be lighter in weight and simpler in construction thanhas hitherto been the case in similar apparatus of the same generalclass and capacity, owing to the liquid inlet check and air-controllingdevice being combined in one casing.

These objects and other advantageous ends I attain as hereinafter setforth, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation, to some extent diagrammatic and partly invertical section, illustrating a liquid elevating apparatus constructedin accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan of the lower portion of the valve casing forming partof my invention; and

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section of the float valve casing andits associated parts.

In the above drawings, 1 represents a supply reservoir or tank and 2 asecond tank or receiving reservoir which is supported at a higher levelthan the tank 1 and to which. the liquid from the latter is to be.delivered. For this purpose there is provided a closed vessel or blowtank 3, suitably supported at a level below the tank 1 in such positionthat liquid may flow to it under the action of gravity through aconnecting conduit 4: in which is mounted an automatic valve deviceincluding a casing 5 made up of an upper part 6 and a lower part 7.

The outlet from the lower part 7 of the valve casing is suitablyconnected to the top of the blow tank 3 from which the liquid isdischarged through a pipe 8 to the elevated tank 2. A vent pipe 9connects with the top of the blow tank 3 and leads to the top of thesupply tank 1 or other suitable free discharge point; there beingconnected in this pipe a check valve 10 which, while preventingrelatively rapid flow of fluid such as liquid or air under pressure fromthe blow tank 3, will permit the gradual flow of the air displaced by aninflow of liquid to said blow tank through the automatic valve device.

The automatic valve device is characterized by having at the upper endof the channel 11 in its lower portion 7, a conical seat designed forthe reception of a float 12 which serves as a valve member. A suitablenumber of air passages 13 formed in the body of the casing open on thesurface of said conical seat which, as shown in Fig. 2, is formed by theadjacent ends of a number of radial arms 14- connected by bridge section14. These arms and bridge sections together form an annular openposition support for a check valve 15 in the form of an invertedcup-shaped structure which has a limited vertical movement within achamber 16 formed in the upper part 6 of the valve casing.

An annular air-supply chamber 17 into which the outer ends of the airpassages 13 open, is formed between the parts 6 and 7 of said casing andhas connected to it a passage 18 which, under operating conditions, issupplied with air at a relatively high pressure.

The top of the chamber 16 of the casing part 6 is formed to constitutean annular seat for the check valve 15 and there are passages 19 formedin its side walls and opening on its under face in position tocommunicate with other passages 20 opening on the top face of the lowervalve section 7 and leading into the passage 11.

When the above described apparatus is to be used for elevating liquidssuch as acid, those parts in contact therewith are made of lead or othersuitable material having the necessary structural strength, andordinarily the float 12, being seated on the conlcal sur faces of theinner ends of the arms 1'4 erases the inner ends of the air passages 13.When therefore, it is desired to transfer liquid from the tank 1 to thetank 2, a suitable stop valve 21 in the pipeline 4 is opened it beingunderstood that the passage 18,- although connected to a source of airunder pressure, is cut ofl from" the interior of the valve casing by thefloat 1-2.;

As the, liquid flows from the tank 1 through the pipe 4:- into the valvecasing 5', it strikes the top of the check valve 15 and passes around itthrough the passages 19 and 20 into the channel. 11, from whence itflows into and, gradually fills the blow tank 3. The air displaced bythe rise of liquid in thelatter tank flows through the vent pipe' 9 intothe tank 1, passing through the check valve 10 Without aiic'cting it.The flow of liquid from the tank 1 continues until the blow tank isfilled, after which it rises the; channel 11 and striking the float 12-,raises thisslightly from its seat, it being notedthat such movement isrendered po sible in spite of the inflow of liquid by reason of theinverted cup-shape design of the check valve 15 and the provision of anair space 22 between the top of said float and the under or inside ofsaid check valve. This unseating, ofthe float due to the impact of therisin-gliquid, perm-its air under high pressurle to enter the valvecasing through the passage 18,- the annular chamber 17 and the passages13, with the result that the check valve 15 is moved forcibly i'rpt'vardinto engagement withits seat at the top of the chamber 16 and caused tocut oif further floygv of liquid as well as to prevent the escape of airthrough the pipe 4 to the tank; 1.

The air delivered through the passage 18 therefore acts upon the liquidin the blow tank 3,; forcing this out through thepipe 8 into the tank 2.At the same time the flow of liquid through the vent-pipe 9to the tank1: is effectuallyprevented since the movable element of the check valve10 is raised by thepressure of the air acting on the colmnn of liquidwhich raised in the vent pipe after the filling of the blow tank 3 andcaused to seat until such time as the pressure within the blow tank .3is relieved. The flow from the delivery pipe 8 therefore continuesuntilthe tank; 3,is so far emptied. that the air delivered through thechannel 18; passages 13 and;- channel 11*, escapes through said pipe,whereuponsincethe air passages 13 are of considerably less area thanthat of the dischargepipe 8, asudden reduction of the pressure in theblow tank 3 takes place and perm-its the float 12- to drop into positionto close the air inlet passages 13. The check valve 15. is-likewisepermitted to again unseat itself and rest on the arms 14 while themovable member of the check valve 10 also returns to its normal unseatedposition. A fresh supply of liquid is then free to pass from the tank 1,through the pipe l, into the blow tank 3.

If desired, I may omit the bridge sections 14f of the bottom seat forthe check valve 15 Where these extend between the inner ends of the arms14:, if the float 12' fits into the check valve 1-5 with sufficienttightness to prevent'liquid gainingaccess to the space between thesemembers. When the: blow tank 3 has been again filled with liquid, theimpact actuated float 12 and check valve 15 are. caused to operate asabove described with the result that second body of liquid is deliveredfrom said-tank 3'to the elevated tank 2,: and theoperation is repeatedautomatically so long as liquid and compressed air are delivered to saidtank 3.

By the provision of the two co-actin'g valves 12 and 15 I amenabled toutilize the pipe 4, in which is connected the air controlling valve, forthe deli-very of liquid into the blow tank 3 from! the tank 1 withoutrequiring an independent check valvein this pipe to prevent back flow ofliquid. The

pipe 9 with its check valve 1-0 will be of check valve andair-controlled device, I am able to obtain amaterially increasedcapacity as compared with apparatus having the same sizes of pipes,position of tanks, air pressure and liquid handled, etc, but ourployi-ng a flapper or piston check valve in the line between the supplyand blowtanks. This advantageous result is due to the fact that the flowof liquid through my valve structures is not retarded as is ordinarilythe case where the check valve member itself is of lead or similar heavyn'iaterial necessitated when sulfuric acid, for example, is to behandled. The liquid in the supply tank flowsto the blow tank under arelatively small head, 6., usually three to ten feet, and a heavy checkvalve of the flapper or piston type seriously retards such flow, where;inmy apparatus, by reason oiithe air and liquid control-lingdevicesarrangedand constructed as above described, the flow from said-supplytank is unrestricted.

I claim-2 1-. Liquid elevating apparatus consisting of asource ofliquid; a blow tank; a'- delivery pipe leading from saidta'nk; aconduitconnecting said source with the blow tank; a check valve in saidconduit; and a compressed-air-controlling valve also connected in theconduit.

2. Liquid elevating apparatus consisting of a source of liquid; a blowtank; a delivery pipe leading from said tank; a conduit connecting saidsource with the blow tank; and an automatic valve device in said conduitconsisting of'a casing; with a check and an air-controlling valveoperative in said casing.

3. Liquid elevating apparatus consisting of a source of liquid; a blowtank; a delivery pipe leading from said tank; a conduit connecting saidsource with the blow tank; with coacting check and air admission valvesconnected in said conduit.

4. Liquid elevating apparatus consisting of a source of liquid; a blowtank; a delivery pipe leading from said tank; a casing connected betweenthe source and the blow tank; an impact-actuated float in said casingcontrolling the admission of compressed air to the tank; and means forrendering said float operative in the presence of inflowing liquid fromthe source, when the liquid in the blow tank has risen to apredetermined level.

5. Liquid elevating apparatus consisting of a source of liquid; a blowtank; a delivery pipe leading from said tank; a casing connected betweenthe source and the blow tank; a float in said casing controlling theadmission of air under pressure to the tank; and a check valve mountedto render said float operative in the presence of inflowing liquid fromthe source, when the liquid in the tank has risen to a predeterminedlevel.

6. Liquid elevating apparatus consisting of a source of liquid; a blowtank; a delivery pipe leading from said tank; a conduit connecting saidsource with the blow tank; a check valve in said conduit; an airadmission valve also connected in the conduit; a vent pipe for saidtank; and a liquid-actuated check valve in 1 said vent Liquid elevatingapparatus consisting of a valve casing having a liquid-receiving passagetherethrough and an air delivery passage opening into said firstpassage; a valve normally preventing flow from the air passage to theliquid passage; and a normally open check valve for preventing flowthrough the passage when said first valve is open.

8. Liquid elevating apparatus consisting of a valve casing having achamber, air and liquid passages opening into the same, and valve seatsassociated with said passages respectively; two valves in said chamberof which one normally engages the seat for the air passage and the otheris normally disengaged from but is formed to co-act with the seat of theliquid passage, there being a channel around said valves to normallypermit flow of liquid in one direction through the casing.

9. Liquid elevating apparatus consisting of a casing having a chamberand air an liquid passages o ening into the same; a float valve normal yclosing the air passage; and a member covering said valve in position topermit movement thereof when liquid is flowing through the casing in onedirection.

10. Liquid elevating apparatus consisting of a casing having a chamberand air and liquid passages opening therein; a valve normally closingthe air passages; with a check valve normally covering said valve andspaced away from the same in position to permit of its movement whenactuated by a moving body of liquid, in spite of the movement in anopposite direction of a second body of liquid.

11. Liquid elevating apparatus consisting of a'casing having a chamberand air and liquid passages opening therein; a valve normally closingthe air passage; with an inverted cup-shaped member normally coveringsaid valve and spaced away from the same in position to permit of itsmovement when actuated by a moving body of liquid, in spite of themovement in an opposite direction of a second body of liquid.

12. Liquid elevating apparatus consisting of a valve casing having achamber and a liquid passage opening into the same; arms projecting intothe chamber and provided with at least one passage for connection to asource of compressed air; a float valve cooperating with the ends of thearms to normally prevent escape of air from said passage into thechamber; with a cup-shaped check valve extending over the float valveand formed to prevent the escape of air under pressure from a portion ofthe liquid passage when said float valve is moved to open the airpassage.

In witness whereof I aiiix my signature.

THOMAS W. MURPHY.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe commissioner of Patentl. Washington, D, 0.

